It was a victory that leaves the Warriors as firm finals contenders, but the side will have Mitch Barnett and Marata Niukore sweating on the match review committee’s decision after they were sent to the sin bin.
Both forwards were given their marching orders after making contact with the head of Raiders winger Jordan Rapana on separate occasions.
The Warriors cruised to victory at GIO Stadium with a 36-14 victory thanks to a Shaun Johnson masterclass, who suffered an injury late in the match during another head clash.
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Canberra star Jack Wighton was also put on report in the 29th minute for a high shot, but was only penalised, bringing confusion from NRL greats Michael Ennis and Cooper Cronk.
“I thought to be fair Jack Wighton was a little bit lucky not to go to the bin, if Dallin Watene-Zelezniak actually stays down and they have another couple of looks at that I’ve got no doubt Jack would’ve spent some time in the bin,” Ennis said on Fox League.
Cronk added, “I agree, first one contact is made and it’s forceful contact (in the Barnett tackle), we all see Rapana goes down … if DWZ does the exact same thing I think Jack Wighton’s in trouble too.
“When you compare them they’re exactly the same and different results.”
In Jarrod Croker’s 300th match, Wighton was first to score in the 21st minute before Barnett was sin binned only moments later.
Johnson injured as Warriors score
The incident seemed to spur on the Warriors though with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring a spectacular one-handed try in the 31st minute.
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A penalty goal thanks to a push and shove between Watene-Zelezniak and Corey Horsburgh put the Raiders ahead 8-6 at half-time.
From there it was all the Warriors with former Raider Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tom Ale, Luke Metcalf and Wayde Egan all scoring to make it 30-8. Egan’s try came after Johnson left the field due to a gruesome head knock with Elliott Whitehead.
Josh Papali’i would score a consolation try late in the game with Niukore minutes earlier due to his tackle on Rapana.
The Warriors had the last laugh though, with a bizarre pass from Sebastian Kris from the kick off finding Johnson – who had returned to the field – with the halfback intercepting and scoring to seal a 36-14 victory.
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